Mormonism constitutes a menace to the Christian religion. It is not only un-Christian, but anti-Christian. It does not regard anyone as saved outside of its own pale. It aims at breaking down all Christian denominations and creeds, but is itself subversive of the principles of Christianity. It is another and very different gospel which it preaches from that of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul had never heard of Mormonism, of course, but he described it pretty accurately when he wrote to the Galatians: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed "( Gal i 6-9 ) It sounds also as if Paul was talking about Mormons when he said to Timothy: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God ; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowl- edge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." (2 Tim. .11. 1-8.) Jude must certainly have been thinking about Mormon elders when he wrote: "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 4.) And to whom are the words of John so appropriate as to Mormon elders: "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9-1 1.) I did not say that. The kind, the gentle, the loving, the beloved John said it. And he was talking about Mormon elders when he said it.
The Mormon elders have three objects in view as they go through the country. (1) To undermine the Christian religion and substitute their semi-heathenism in its place. (2) To convert all the men they can so as to get their money and their votes. (3) To convert all the women they can for their wives.
As history has shown, they are making no converts at home, either among the men or the women, and so they must gain converts abroad or they will soon perish. I do not believe in hanging or shooting or rotten-egging these elders. In the first place it is not right, and in the second place it gives them the opportunity to cry persecution, which they love to do.
In 1844 Joseph Smith was a candidate for the US Presidency against Polk and Clay, and Mormon elders were sent allover the country to electioneer for him. He was not elected, one reason being that he was killed before the election. If the Mormon program could be carried out, what is to prevent a Mormon from occupying the White House some day? And yet the best time to crush despotism is in its incipiency. "Resist the beginnings," is an old and ever true maxim. Eternal vigilance is the price of our liberty's preservation. Mormon schemes must be exposed, Mormon diplomacy counteracted by an outraged public sentiment, Mormon cunning met and mastered by the wisdom of a Christian statesmanship. If this power shall pit itself further against our institutions, let it be crushed into powder. Let Christian sentinels be ever alert, and, at slightest hint of Mormon encroachment, sound the tocsin of war. Never forget that Joseph Smith declared non-mormons “enemies." I stand as a proud enemy of the Mormon blasphemy.